Method of inflating high altitude inflatable structures



Oct. 15, 1963 E. G. SIMKO ETAL 3,107,068

METHOD OF INFLATING HIGH ALTITUDE INFLATABLE STRUCTURES Filed March 14,1963 INVENTOR. EDWARD G. SIMKO EDWARD HAMERNIK Z 0.? 9 9 0% f ATTORNEYS:

United States Patent 3,107,068 METHDD 0F INFLATEJG I-HGH ALTITUDEINFLATABLE STRUCTURES G. Sir-alto Edi-lard L. Eamernih, Fviinne= apolis,Minn, assi nors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 14, 1963, Ser.No. 265,599 2 Claims. (Cl. 244-1) This invention relates to theinflation of collapsed thin film envelopes by liquids which arevaporized at high altitudes. Heretofore this has been accomplished bystoring the vaporizable liquid in the collapsed envelope. This has thedisadvantage that some of the vaporizable liquid can be lost throughflaws in the material of the envelope. The present invention avoids thisdifiiculty by maintaining the vaporizable liquid in a separate containeruntil inflation of the envelope is to be initiated and also providing avent to the envelope so that entrained air can escape when the containedsystem is subjected to a partial vacuum environment.

The invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and itsscope is indicated by the appended claims.

The singe FIGURE of the drawing shows an enclosure within which arecontained a collapsed envelope 11 and a vessel 12 containing a liquid 13vaporizable at altitudes in excess or" 150,000 feet. The enclosure 10 issplit along its horizontal axis AA so that it separates into two partsupon its projection into space by a rocket or other suitable vehicle bywhich it is transported.

x Interconnecting the collapsed envelope 11 and the vessel r 12 is acheck valve 14. So long as the parts of the enclosure 10 are maintainedin their illustrated positions the valve 14 is closed with respect tothe vessel 12 while main- "ice taining an open port or vent 16 withrespect to the envelope 11. When the parts of enclosure 10 separate thecheck valve 14 is displaced to a new position by spring 15 which opensthe passage between the vessel 12 and envelope 11 and closes the port orvent 16 for the envelope 11. The liquid 13 boils into the envelope 11which is thereby inflated.

As can be readily understood, the check valve 14 may assume forms otherthan that illustrated. Thus the container 11 and vessel 12 may beinterconnected by a rubber tube which is pinched closed until the partsof the enclosure 10 separate with a separate vent 16 which remains openuntil the parts of the enclosure 10 separate.

We claim:

1. The combination of an enclosure split to separate into two parts uponits ejection into space,

a vessel mounted within said enclosure and containing a liquidvaporizable at altitudes in excess of 150,000 feet,

an inflatable envelope positioned in said enclosure, and

a check valve interconnecting said vessel and said envelope and biasedto move from a closed to an open position upon said separation of saidparts, said valve providing a vent for said envelope for escape ofentrained air therein when said valve is in its closed position.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure is acylinder and is split along its longitudinal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,996,212 OSullivan Aug. 15, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Aviation Week, Sept.19, 1960, pp. 54, 55.

1. THE COMBINATION OF AN ENCLOSURE SPLIT TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PARTS UPONITS EJECTION INTO SPACE, A VESSEL MOUNTED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE ANDCONTAINING A LIQUID VAPORIZABLE AT ALTITUDES IN EXCESS OF 150,000 FEET,AN INFLATABLE ENVELOPE POSITIONED IN SAID ENCLOSURE, AND A CHECK VALVEINTERCONNECTING SAID VESSEL AND SAID ENVELOPE AND BIASED TO MOVE FROM ACLOSED TO AN OPEN POSITION UPON SAID SEPARATION OF SAID PARTS, SAIDVALVE PROVIDING A VENT FOR SAID ENVELOPE FOR ESCAPE OF ENTRAINED AIRTHEREIN WHEN SAID VALVE IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.